Cap - Posted - 03/17/2026:  07:55:55

I had a banjo listed, I had a buyer overseas, who involved a middleman. The Middleman contacted me and wanted me to lower my asking price for the Banjo. I declined and the transaction never happened
never heard from the buyer again. What is the job of the middleman? Do they negotiate a lower price? The buyer never asked me to lower the price in fact didn't ask any specific Questions about the banjo or transaction. ( I thought it was a little strange).
Could it be? the buyer and the middleman were same person. I don't get it. I understand the middleman charges a fee, if I lower my price would that be more profit for the middleman? I never had anything like this before happen. I thought I had an overseas buyer, maybe I didn't.

Capybara - Posted - 03/17/2026:  08:19:27

It's a scam any way you dice it.

If this is somehow legitimate: then yes, either the middleman increases profit by never passing on the savings of the lower fee, or, middleman and buyer are same person simply negotiating a lower price.

If this is not legitimate: this is the first step in any number of scams. The lower price helps entice you, the seller, to continue with the scam without asking too many questions or thinking too critically. For example, say you and middleman agree on a lower price. Middleman sends you "money," which is either (a) more than you asked for, causing you to pay a "refund," except the money was never real and will never hit your bank; (b) sends you spoofed emails that collect your information for use for future scams; (c) you send the banjo (unlikely they care about it at all, though!) and then claim it was damaged or lost, ask for a refund; (d) you send the banjo, then middleman; (e) somehow the "middleman" has nothing to do with the buyer (who might be legit) at all--they've simply cold emailed people selling things to intercept the money, etc. etc. etc. The possibilities are nearly endless.

All in all, I suspect you never had a buyer at all, especially sans any questions about the banjo. Always be careful! Try to call, or better yet, Zoom/video chat, with the buyer first, always, as a condition of selling. That way, they can see the banjo, ask questions, get to know you, etc., and you can get to know them, even for a few minutes, to be sure it is a real deal. While that is a little inconvenient, buying an overseas banjo, for what I suspect is a pretty penny, is a complex ordeal, and a serious, real buyer should be fine with that. I don't know who uses a middleman to buy things online, but these days, with the ever-changing complexities of US tariffs, maybe someone unfamiliar with the internet or international shipping, etc., I suppose it is possible. But a phone call would help reassure everyone! I have always had great experiences buying here, but the bigger purchases have always involved at a quick call :)

Glad your banjo is safe! Hope it finds a home :)

Alex Z - Posted - 03/17/2026:  08:50:14

"What is the job of the middleman?"



"Middleman" is too broad of a term.  There are three legitimate types of middleman, and one not legitimate.



  1.  "Broker" -- Connects buyer and seller for a fee.  Does not take ownership of the goods.  Think stockbroker.



  2.  "Agent" -- Speaks and negotiates on behalf of either seller or buyer.  Does not take ownership of the goods.  Think agent for baseball player.



  3.  "Arbitrageur" -- Buys low and sells high for a profit.  Takes ownership of the goods, and risk of ownership, in between.



  4.  Scam artist -- Pretends to be one of the above, but has no interest in completing the transaction, but rather only in getting money from buyer or seller or both.







Have to know exactly what type you're dealing with, and how to deal with them.  Otherwise, I'd advise avoiding a middleman (legitimate or illegitimate) completely.

Edited by - Alex Z on 03/17/2026 08:51:45

Bill Rogers - Posted - 03/17/2026:  12:14:30

I only deal with principals. The potential for mistakes or fraud only increases with more parties involved.

Joel Hooks - Posted - 03/17/2026:  16:36:10

This sounds like the seed of an Advance Payment Scam.

kaydee - Posted - 04/13/2026:  06:15:57

Definitely a scam,I’ve had shed loads of calls asking if “item” was still for sale and immediately offered to buy at full price without asking questions.Guitars,mountain bikes,bike parts,anything in fact.
Many offering to “send a courier who will bring the cash” and collect it the next day.
Steer clear.
All the best